10 Villains Who Turned Into Avengers, Ranked by Arc

The Avengers, Marvel’s top team of powerful heroes, are unique because they’ve often welcomed former villains into their ranks. This practice began with the first Avengers series, issue #16, when Captain America brought on three reformed enemies to fill spots left by other heroes. Since then, the Avengers have continued to take chances on villains, and while some have become valuable allies, others have caused even more trouble. This willingness to accept flawed characters is a fascinating part of the Avengers’ history, constantly shaking up the team and introducing compelling new dynamics.

Many of the most powerful Avengers weren’t always heroes – they began as villains. The Avengers gave them the opportunity to prove themselves, and even formed a whole team of reformed villains. This shows the Avengers are more willing than most groups to give people a second chance, and these ten heroes demonstrate that perfectly.

10) The Vision

Vision is a legendary Avenger, but it’s easy to forget he originally began as a villain. Created by Ultron to defeat the Avengers, he ultimately chose to join their ranks. While his logical, machine nature has sometimes led him down a darker path, he consistently returns to fighting for good alongside his teammates. Over the years, Vision has become one of the Avengers’ most powerful members, using his incredible strength, ability to fly, control over his density, and powerful energy blasts – whether powered by the Mind Stone in the movies or a sun-hot gem in the comics – to save the day countless times. He’s a true cornerstone of the team, and the Avengers just aren’t quite the same when he’s not around.

9) Daken

Following World War II, Wolverine married a woman named Itsu, and she became pregnant. Tragically, she was killed by the Winter Soldier. A villain named Romulus, who hated Wolverine, then removed their unborn child from her body, raised him, and left him with a Japanese family. They named the boy Akihiro, a word meaning “mongrel,” and taught him to despise his father, Wolverine. Later, Norman Osborn recruited Akihiro, known as Daken, to join the Dark Avengers, tasking him with both acting as a version of Wolverine and helping Romulus pursue his father. Daken proved to be a reliable member of the team, less violent than Bullseye and more manageable than others, and he enjoyed the recognition that came with being a public hero. Notably, he killed the Punisher during his time with the Dark Avengers. Considering his performance and the Avengers’ current lack of a Wolverine, Daken deserves a second chance to join the team.

8) Iron Patriot

Norman Osborn is famous as Spider-Man’s enemy, the Green Goblin, but he once worked with Iron Man and SHIELD. He was secretly brought in to fight the Atlanteans, allowing Iron Man to maintain plausible deniability. Later, he led the Thunderbolts, a team of villains secretly working for SHIELD, and was responsible for killing the Skrull Empress during the *Secret Invasion*. Osborn then took control of SHIELD, turning it into HAMMER and launching the Superhero Initiative. He formed the Dark Avengers – a group of villains pretending to be heroes – and used an updated Iron Man suit to become the Iron Patriot. The Iron Patriot was a clever villain, using the Dark Avengers to both save the world and mislead his opponents. While Osborn’s mental instability eventually caused problems, the Iron Patriot remains a memorable figure in the world of heroes.

7) Namor

Namor is a famously complex character, often switching between being a hero and a villain. He began as a protector of the ocean who clashed with surface dwellers, even battling the original Human Torch. He later fought alongside the Allies against the Nazis before fading into obscurity. When he resurfaced, Namor’s loyalties became unpredictable – sometimes he’d ally with Doctor Doom against the heroes to defend his underwater kingdom, and other times he’d join the Avengers to save the world. This pattern of shifting alliances has continued throughout his history; he’s repeatedly fought *with* and *against* the Avengers. He’s also found more consistent footing with the X-Men, as well as the secretive groups known as the Illuminati and the Cabal. Despite his unpredictable nature, Namor has often been a crucial asset to the Avengers, helping them save the world on many occasions.

6) Moonstone/Ms. Marvel III

I’ve been following Moonstone for a while now, and she’s always been a fascinating character. She started out as a villain, one of Ms. Marvel’s enemies, and then teamed up with the Masters of Evil. Her powers are incredible – she can change how dense she is, fly, and shoot energy blasts, all on top of being super strong and durable. I remember when she joined Zemo’s Thunderbolts, taking on the name Meteorite. She quickly became a leader, even sharing that role with Hawkeye at one point. Later, she rejoined the Thunderbolts, this time working with SHIELD as Moonstone, and even briefly became the new Ms. Marvel during the Dark Avengers storyline. What’s really interesting is how her alignment has changed over the years. She’s gone from being a straight-up bad guy to a more heroic figure as Meteorite, then back to villainous tendencies with the Thunderbolts and Dark Avengers. But honestly, when she *is* on the good side, she’s a fantastic Avenger and really makes the team stronger.

5) Ex Nihilo

I first encountered Ex Nihilo when I started reading the new *Avengers* series – it was the beginning of Jonathan Hickman’s incredible run! What’s fascinating is that he wasn’t just some random villain; he was actually created by the Builders, this unbelievably old race responsible for spreading life throughout the universe. He and his partner, Abyss, along with a robot named Aleph, launched an attack on Earth from Mars, believing they needed to ‘evolve’ the planet to prepare for some huge, upcoming disasters. The Avengers initially got completely overwhelmed, and only Captain America managed to escape. He then assembled the biggest, most powerful Avengers team ever seen, and they *finally* managed to take down Ex Nihilo and Abyss. Surprisingly, they weren’t destroyed! They were allowed to stay on Mars, and eventually, they actually *joined* the Avengers! They proved to be invaluable in the war against the Builders – the very race that created Ex Nihilo – helping to save all life in the *Infinity* event. He really was a fantastic Avenger, and it was amazing to see someone who clearly loved the universe contributing to its protection and helping people.

4) Black Widow

Black Widow’s popularity exploded thanks to her role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, built on her long history as an Avenger. Originally a highly trained Soviet spy, she was raised in the Red Room and sometimes worked alongside the Winter Soldier. Thanks to a special formula, she maintained her youth, and initially clashed with Iron Man, attempting to steal his technology for Russia while using Hawkeye to carry out her plans. Eventually, she defected from Russian intelligence and joined the Avengers, becoming a valuable and trusted member due to her extensive experience and skills as a spy.

3) Quicksilver

Quicksilver was discovered by Magneto, who brought him and his twin sister, Scarlet Witch, into the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. Though they fought against the X-Men, the Brotherhood wasn’t a good fit – the other members constantly pursued Scarlet Witch, and Magneto was a harsh leader. Eventually, Captain America convinced Quicksilver and his sister to join the Avengers. He experienced both successes and challenges with the team, but became a key member from the late 1960s to the early 1980s. Quicksilver’s incredible speed makes him a powerful hero, but also creates difficulties in his life. He has since been a part of both X-Factor and the Avengers Unity Squad.

2) Scarlet Witch

Scarlet Witch is now considered one of the strongest and most beloved Avengers. She joined the team with her brother, Quicksilver, and has been a vital member for years. However, her time as an Avenger hasn’t been easy. Her powers are incredibly strong but often unstable, and she’s struggled with deep emotional trauma. This has led her to become a villain and fight the Avengers on several occasions, though she always finds her way back. Despite being vulnerable to attack, her unique magic and ability to warp reality make her an essential part of the team. She’s formed close bonds with heroes like Wonder Man and the Vision, and ultimately, she’s a legendary Avenger through and through.

1) Hawkeye

Hawkeye, also known as Clint Barton, is often overlooked despite being a crucial member of the Avengers. He developed his incredible archery skills – and expertise with other weapons – growing up in the circus, learning from mentors like Swordsman and Trickshot. Recruited by Black Widow, he initially fought against Iron Man, launching a career battling opponents far stronger than himself with just a bow and arrow. Later, he joined Captain America’s team alongside Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch, quickly proving his worth. Throughout his time with the Avengers, Hawkeye has consistently faced incredible threats – from gods and monsters to alien invaders and powerful villains – relying on his skill and specialized arrows. While he briefly experimented with villainy, Hawkeye has been a dedicated and valuable Avenger ever since joining the team.

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2025-09-22 04:14